My favorite priest is leaving my parish can I just switch parishes

[dochawk]

In the US, the conference of bishops established a complementary norm (as allowed by Canon 522). it states:

Note, though, that the norm is permanent appointment, and only a few countries have gone to the terms.

Also, in the US, there seems to be a tendency to appoint administrators rather than pastors, as they can be swapped around at a whim.

hawk

 

[TheOldColonel]

Yes. You may change parishes. Yet, you might consider your existing bonds to your local parish family even more important than who is the current pastor.

 

[Bataar]

Yes. You may change parishes. Yet, you might consider your existing bonds to your local parish family even more important than who is the current pastor.

Maybe in varies in different states/regions/dioceses/etc, but this seems to be a major problem with the Catholic church in some areas. There is no parish family. No one at the parish knows anyone else at the parish. They show up for Mass, exit as soon as the priest leaves (if not before) and that’s it.

 

[Brendan_64]

Personally I would stay where you are for 6 months in order to see how things develop in your existing parish. If after 6 months you find yourself frustrated and you find your spiritual needs are not being met, then I would go elsewhere.

But it should not be about attachment to a particular priest. Ultimately who the priest is should not matter. But if you find the direction of the parish, spiritually or/and liturgically is causing you continuous frustration, upset and possibly even anger, then after a few months you may be better off considering going elsewhere.

 

[HolySpirit]

What I find confusing is that if I have a problem in the country I am living, the Church tells me that morally, I should move my family to a country that gives my family a better life. I have no moral obligation to stay in my country and make it a better place.

However, if I am having a problem where I live, I have a moral obligation to stay in my parish and work to improve it by becoming more involved in my community life. I must not move my parish membership to a new parish that I believe will be the best for my family.

This has been bothering me since the USCCB has spoken out about refugees. This question has brought it to a head in my mind. The entire time the question has been posted, I have not been able to reconcile the seemingly contradictory church teaching.

If you have a problem where you live, shouldn’t you work to make your home a better place? By moving, aren’t you just harming your former home by not being the change necessary to improve life for your parish and your family? Why is it acceptable for me to physically move if I have a problem in my parish, but it isn’t ok for me to simply change parishes.

How do I know when I am morally obligated to give up on my home versus when moving or making a change is actually immoral?

 

[blackforest]

You make a reasonable effort to instigate change and, barring that, leave.

If it’s your church, meet with the clergy, pastoral council, etc. and kindly convey your concerns. If this doesn’t accomplish anything and you have the option, attend another parish.

If it’s Syria, leave. I don’t think it would work to request a meeting over coffee and Kroger muffins with the party that just detonated explosives in your home.

More complex but still analogous - the school system. A lot of parents get demonized for removing their children from a bad neighborhood school and homeschooling or enrolling them in parochial school. They’re supposed to stick around, join the PTA, “make things better.” I, for one, got tired of feeling powerless against the school board, fed-ed, etc, and was too busy with a baby and toddler to work an unpaid internship in my kid’s classroom.

 

[SacredHeartBassist]

It’s just very far for me to drive to on sundays. I am a musician in the choir though and the only thing that was making the drive worth it was the priest. Now that he’s going I’m better off leaving. There’s nothing to be addressed

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

It’s just very far for me to drive to on sundays. I am a musician in the choir though and the only thing that was making the drive worth it was the priest. Now that he’s going I’m better off leaving. There’s nothing to be addressed

Then go to confession for being shallow and move on.

 

[SacredHeartBassist]

How does wanting to be in a church that’s catholic and closer to home make me shallow

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

How does wanting to be in a church that’s catholic and closer to home make me shallow

Shallow for going for a priest and nothing else. If you went for a priest you should of made it your parish, been involved, had relationships. Parish is about more than a priest. If after years and involvement your only reason for staying is still a priest. Yeah, that’s shallow. But you cannot make up for your lack of making those ties now. Confess for not being a true parishoner and being in community and move onto your actual parish.

 

[OsculeturMeOsculo]

That’s not a sin.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

That’s not a sin.

Being shallow to the point that you waste resources to get what you want seems at least venial to me.

 

[Mab]

Sure as for me I will leave with him

 

[OsculeturMeOsculo]

People spend lots of money and resources to go see the pope or go on a holy pilgrimage. If the priest helps the OP become a better Catholic then there is no problem.

 

[SacredHeartBassist]

I did get involved with the parish and I joined the men’s group and the choir. I’ve met a lot of good people there. But I’m seeing this as a chance to switch parishes to something closer to home for me. I can join a new men’s group and a new choir

The new priest that is coming in is an old high school teacher of mine who became a priest.

i’m really “eh” about him

 

[Brendan_64]

However, if I am having a problem where I live, I have a moral obligation to stay in my parish

You do not have to stay in your parish, you have freedom to go to Mass in another Catholic church.

You may be technically under some sort of jurisdiction of the parish in which you live, but unless you are a woman who is planning to get married, or perhaps if you have children wisjing to attend a local school, I can’t see how this takes much effect. We are the universal Church, not a body made up of individual parochial Churches.

While it is very laudable to stay and work to improve your parish, and you should try this, but if it gets too much then you are not compelled to stay.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

Maybe this is a good opportunity to return to the parish closest to you. A lot can change in the years you’ve been at your current parish, even you. It may be a better fit now. I give new things at least 3 tries and since the parishioners could be your actual neighbors so that adds to community. Take my advice with a grain of salt; I usually drive an hour tho the parish I prefer.

 

[porthos11]

Or is that wrong? I know the priest is replacing him and no thanks

You can attend Mass in, receive the Sacraments from, financially support, and even serve at any parish you want.

But you are only ever a member of one territorial parish (never mind personal parishes; this does not apply to most Catholics): that in which you live. Unless you move your residence, you cannot technically change parishes. This has implications for things like weddings and dispensations, since you really have only one canonical pastor.

 

[PetraG]

You are a member of the parish in whose boundaries you reside. The pastor of that parish is your pastor.

In some dioceses, however, the bishop or archbishop instructs pastors to allow members of the faithful who reside outside the boundaries of a parish to establish domicile there. When I called our chancery office to ask which parish my new home was in, the office said I was free to establish domicile anywhere I liked. The archbishops have mostly encouraged the faithful to find a parish and become active in parish life, whether that is their geographic/canonical parish or not.

OP…have you talked to your current pastor about this?

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

1ke:

You are a member of the parish in whose boundaries you reside. The pastor of that parish is your pastor.

In some dioceses, however, the bishop or archbishop instructs pastors to allow members of the faithful who reside outside the boundaries of a parish to establish domicile there. When I called our chancery office to ask which parish my new home was in, the office said I was free to establish domicile anywhere I liked. The archbishops have mostly encouraged the faithful to find a parish and become active in parish life, whether that is their geographic/canonical parish or not.

OP…have you talked to your current pastor about this?

Yeah. That’s pretty much what happens in my dioceses. They just want you to stay in the dioceses and not go to another state/dioceses (which is way easy in New England)